Chiangmai

[dc7176]

Guys, might b goin for the songkran festival, but izzit safe to visit there now? politically unsafe leh, seems so messy at thailand!

[phantomtiger2]

Originally Posted by dc7176

Guys, might b goin for the songkran festival, but izzit safe to visit there now? politically unsafe leh, seems so messy at thailand!

If you are going to CM, it is safe there. Only problems I ever heard of in CM concerns the backpacking tours into the mountains. Heard some got rob by gang of armed bandits in the hills but nothing bad for the city itself.

PT

[Bushnell 1918cb]

Originally Posted by dc7176

Guys, might b goin for the songkran festival, but izzit safe to visit there now? politically unsafe leh, seems so messy at thailand!

Hi Bro

Just like our Pm's constituency, CM is Dr Thasin's constituency, he had enormous support from the people of CM. In fact, Cm is one of the safe & sound place in Thailand. I have been there 6 times & will be there again if times allowed. The law & order is one of the best in thailand, incase you might encounter any police road block, carry a photo copy of your passport, you will safe & sound. Especially,when you intend to travel to Chiang Rai by Road as there will be few police road blocks along the journey. Happy journey to you to CM. Cheers.

Bushnell

[Sohni]

It's about that time of the year again where many flock to Chiang Mai for the Songkran festivals. Hotel and air tickets might be fully booked by now. Any samsters in Chiang Mai during the Songkran week?

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 19 April 2006 :-

Chiang Mai to ban alcohol at next year's Songkran festivities

Brewers will be banned from next year's Songkran parade in Chiang Mai, the city's cultural councillor said yesterday.

Chiang Mai's campaign against alcohol sales within the city walls during the holiday was a success, with a 70-per-cent drop in sales, said Wallop Namwongphrom.

However, some people brought their own alcohol and that led to drunkenness, fights breaking out and women being molested, he said.

Many people did not want alcohol manufacturers in the festival parade because they were advertising, Wallop said. So it has been decided they will be excluded next year, he said. The Chiang Mai Cultural Council will also ask stage organisers to ban shows featuring young women in skimpy clothes dancing, as were seen this year and broadcast to the nation, because they gave the city a bad image, Wallop said.

Next year the city will promote activities in temples with people wearing traditional dress, and continue its campaign against the sale of alcohol, he said. Muang Chiang Mai deputy mayor Pornchai Jitnawasathien said this year's festivities raised between Bt500million and Bt600 million, compared to last year's Bt1 billion.

He attributed this to a 40-per-cent drop in tourism, due to many foreigners choosing to avoid Thailand's political turmoil and local people preferring to save their money. The festival also left giant piles of rubbish, which took officials 32 hours to remove, Pornchai said.

The city usually produces about 300 tonnes of refuse a day but that increased by 70 per cent last Tuesday and Wednesday and by 120 to 150 per cent on Thursday and Friday.

As for road accidents, the Chiang Mai Probation Office said 694 drivers, bailed after they were arrested for drink-driving, would be asked to volunteer to help people suffering mental problems caused by alcoholism. This would allow them to serve society and learn the dangers of alcohol abuse, said office director Rommanee Klanbida yesterday.

As most of road accidents involved motorcycles, Deputy Interior Minister Sermsak Pongpanit yesterday said research on preventive measures for reckless riding were also planned.

[thailuck]

Hi all,

Now in chiangmai, any samster here. I with my Thai gal friend, care to out for a drink?

[KLKOOL]

Originally Posted by thailuck

Hi all,

Now in chiangmai, any samster here. I with my Thai gal friend, care to out for a drink?

Bro ... u r one lucky man... enjoy yourselves... I have also been told that not much tourists in CNX now... so u have the city (and puyings) pretty much to yourself... cheers

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 23 April 2006 :-

Snow forecast for Chiang Mai

Thailand's Zoological Park Organisation gave a greenlight to construct an artificial snow building for a pair of pandas, ambassadors of friendship from China, now living at the Chiang Mai Zoo.

The planned artificial snow habitat is designed to encourage the pandas to produce baby pandas.

Zoo director Thanapat Pongphamorn said that the planned structure was proposed by the zoo to make a new home for Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui similar to their natural habitat in China.

The 50-million-baht project will support natural mating conditions for the panda couple. It is expected to begin next year and to be completed in 2009.

The new building will extend up to two rai (1 acre = 2.5 rai) from their existing enclosure. When the snow environment building is finished, the two pandas will switch to stay there for a period of time, depending on the seasons in China, their country of origin.

Zoo visitors will be allowed to enter the snow building to touch and play with the artificial snow.

[kenny2003]

hi bro,
saw your msg too late, if not, can recommend at least 1 place for u to cheong in CM. Place name President. A bar (where gals presenting themselves on stage, guest buy flowers to hang on their neck). She comes down to sit with u, then TCSS & nego starts.

was there last yr May, local connection brought us around. Quality of President quite ok, damaged range ard BHT2000.

was with bro Pearl in penang btf for 2 nights (real fun), no need to go back to bangla to work....& then off to CM again for break.....u plan going to CM again?

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 30 April 2006 :-

Cyclone hits Burma, heavy rain in Thailand

Thailand's Meteorological Department warned local residents in eight northern and western provinces to brace for heavy downpours and possible flash floods due to tropical cyclone Mala, as it moves into Thailand from Burma.

The storm made landfall in Burma, then quickly lost intensity, the Burmese meteoroligical department said. There was heavy rain today in Rangoon, where clogged drains failed to cope with the downpour, causing 30cm floods on some downtown streets, residents told Reuters.

Mala's power abated as it crossed the coast of southern Rakhine state near Gwa township, Meteorology and Hydrology Department Director-General Tun Lwin told Reuters.

The Meteorology Department of Thailand said flash floods are forecast in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Tak, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Udon Thani, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi.

Two to three-metre high waves are expected in the Andaman sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Meteorological Department director general Suparerk Tansriratanawong warned that some districts in Chiang Mai will be hardest hit with heavy rainfall.

However, residents in mountainous areas should be alert to heavy rain and the possibility of flash floods.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 30 April 2006 :-

Mala set to strike 13 provinces : Residents warned of possible landslides and flash-flooding

Tropical cyclone Mala hit five provinces in the North and Central regions yesterday, prompting a warning from authorities.

Residents in 13 provinces have been told they could face heavy rainstorms and landslides from today until early tomorrow.

The five afflicted provinces are Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Tak, Lampang and Uthai Thani. The other eight provinces at risk are Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri and Ratchaburi.

The weather bureau said the worst hit area was Mae Hong Son, which has suffered storms since Friday evening.

"Heavy rain will easily cause wild and flash-floods in certain risk areas," said Supharerk Tansrirat-anawong, director general of the Department of Meteorology.

The latest monitoring showed that the cyclone continued to grow in strength but it is expected to peak tonight before winds slow down from about 4am today.

Cyclone Mala formed in the Bay of Bengal and crossed the Burmese coast at 4pm yesterday. The storm, with maximum wind speeds of 120kph, was 500km north of Ran-goon and travelling north at 10kph.

"Residents in the 13 potential afflicted provinces should closely monitor the situation through our announcements," the director general said.

Supharerk said the department had warned governors of the 13 provinces to prepare for Mala. Each governor would contact local authorities to prepare to help any villages hit by the cyclone, he said.

Residents affected by the storm could ring the department hotline 1784 to get help 24 hours a day.

At Mae Hong Son, heavy rain began on Friday evening. The local weatherman said 46.9 millimetres had fallen by 10am yesterday.

Official Khomsan Suwan-ampha of Mae Hong Son Provincial Office said he made urgent calls to seven district heads to prepare for possible landslides and flash-floods. Preparations were also being made to remove villagers to higher areas, if necessary, he said.

Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantiphat said he had prepared evacuation plans for villages in three districts at risk - Mae Chaem, Om Koi and Hord, which would be monitoring round the clock.

Bunkia Kunatharnkul, the senior official at Mae Chaem district, said he had been closely monitoring the amount of rain that has fallen and would announce evacuations if it reached 100 millimetres. Yang Luang village was vulnerable and had experienced two landslides recently, he said.

Kanchanaburi Governor Cherdwit Ritprasart ordered officials to prepare for the cyclone, especially in the high-risk districts of Sangkhlaburi, Srisawasdi, Thong Pha Phum and Saiyoke.

Fishermen have been told to prepare for two-metre waves in the Gulf of Thailand and the two to three metre waves in the Andaman Sea.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 6 May 2006 :-

Traffic Relief for Chiang Mai : Residents of northern capital can look forward to a better quality of life if Bt7-bn transit system is approved

Residents of Chiang Mai and visitors to this northern city may soon get relief from the worsening traffic congestion, if the city gets the go-ahead for a Bt7-billion mass-transit system.

A public hearing on the proposed project will take place later this month and if given the green light, the 40km bus rapid transit system could be operational in the next two years.

Called the Chiang Mai Mass Transit System (CTS), the plan proposes four lines of rapid bus service with dedicated traffic lanes.

The system will cover a total of 150 square kilometres of the central and densely populated areas of Chiang Mai.

Dr Rangsun Udomsri of Chiang Mai University, who heads the feasibility study team, said the project would greatly increase the quality of life in this city of more than a million residents and tourists.

"The system will run across the inner city from north to south and from east to west. It's basically inside the Chiang Mai ancient wall. There will be a total of 70 bus stops.

"With each ticket, estimated to cost Bt15, you could start the journey at any of the 70 stops. When operational, the system will change the city's landscape and traffic flow for the better," he said.

"People will greatly benefit from the new mass-transit service. They can park private vehicles and motorbikes at places around the network and commute more conveniently and efficiently," he said, adding, "Less private vehicle traffic and congestion also means less pollution," he said.

Unless the city authority moves quickly to implement the project, Chiang Mai runs the risk of a traffic gridlock due to the relentless rise in the number of private vehicles and motorcycles, now totalling about 500,000.

This number will likely double to a million in the next decade, Rangsun warns. He said that residents and visitors currently made an average 1.8 million commutes per day, with 91 per cent of them using private vehicles.

Rungsan estimates that about 30 per cent of residents and tourists will switch to the mass transit, up from five per cent at present.

"It sounds great. It should turn Chiang Mai into my dream town. More people would also bike to the stops and take the mass transit," Nirandorn Phothikarnond, president of the Sunday Biking Club.

Junaphong Saranark, a Chiang Mai tourism official, said tourists would not only have a better choice of public transport but could also get round the city as well as commute to nearby districts like San Kamphaeng and Hang Dong at a lesser cost.

Narong Tananuwat, president of the city's Chamber of Commerce, said the project would help boost Chiang Mai's economy while protecting the environment and cultural heritage.

Narong said the city would likely opt for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, using 18-metre-long public buses running inside dedicated traffic lanes.

"Building skytrain and subway systems is a lot more expensive than the BRT. The skytrain is also not good for a tourist city like Chiang Mai, while a subway could face hurdles in construction as we have lots of underground cultural and ancient sites around the town," he said.

Next week, the city will hold its first public hearing on the project. Another session is scheduled for May 15.

When the feasibility study by CMU's Faculty of Engineers is completed later this year, the project will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

According to Narong, public participation in the scheme will be the key to its success. Authorities are expecting opposition to the project from large numbers of taxi minibus operators whose businesses would be affected.

Songthaew operators have monopolised public transport in this town for decades.

Narong said songthaew operators and drivers should be offered an opportunity to be part of the new mass-transit system so as to help guarantee their income.

These converted pickup trucks could provide the feeder service for the mass transit.

After the initial 40km system is completed, the city also plans a second phase of development to cover six surrounding districts of Chiang Mai.

At this stage, it is still unclear which local authority will be in charge of operating the planned mass transit.

The Provincial Administrative Organisation has the jurisdiction, but it may lack experience in running a system of this scale so an alternative is to set up a special organisation to oversee the system.

The CTS scheme was approved in principle by the Cabinet several years ago, but the funding details have never been finalised.

"The central government should invest in the CTS as it is a public infrastructure project, and should be operated either by a special agency or by the private sector. The CTS would not be economically feasible without government financial support," Narong said.

Boonlert Buranuprakorn, the Chiang Mai mayor, said he remained optimistic the central government would continue to support the project.

"Even though the political situation is fluid, I believe the government will eventually give the green light since Chiang Mai is a major city and a tourism magnet," Boonlert said.

Narong added that the project was a major challenge for Chiang Mai in terms of sustainable development and, if the project succeeded in the city, it could inspire other big cities to follow suit.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 15 May 2006 :-

Giant catfish hunters suffer after making big sacrifice

Chiang Rai - Fishermen who hunted the Mekong giant catfish are struggling to make ends meet since they took a landmark pledge to stop catching the rare species last month.

Boonrian Jinnarat, adviser to the Giant Catfish Club, a group of commercial fishermen, has called on conservation groups participating in the conservation project to come up with measures to help the fishermen, who now lack income to support their families.

His comments came shortly after two fishermen broke their promise and resumed fishing in the river last week. The fishermen said they had to break ranks to earn a living.

Mr Boonrian said it was unfair if conservationists ask locals to abandon their staple livelihood without long-term assistance.

Hunting the giant catfish, or pla buek, has been a crucial source of income for Chiang Rai fishermen for decades. It is said to generate about one million baht a year for the fishing community in Chiang Khong district.

Mr Boonrian said his group had previously asked for a job replacement scheme for affected fishermen. However, there had been no progress as the focus was still on how to end the fishing.

"It is a great sacrifice for these fishermen to agree to stop catching pla buek. So they should not be left to struggle alone," said Mr Boonrian. In mid-April, 68 fishermen reached an agreement with international and local wildlife conservation groups to stop catching the rare fish in order to preserve it - the agreement is first of its kind in the country.

The fishermen also agreed to sell their seine nets, worth about 20,000 baht each, to symbolise the end of the hunt. The local and international conservation groups have been seeking donations to buy the fishing gear and to set up a fund to help the fishermen start new careers.

The Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas, is on the World Conservation Union's red list of critically endangered species and is found only in the Mekong river. According to the Giant Catfish Club's records, the catch has plunged drastically, from 69 fish in 1990 to only four in 1997. Last year, again only four were caught. Biologists blame overfishing and deterioration of the river's ecology for the sharp drop in population.

Former Chiang Rai senator Tuenjai Deetes, one of the leaders of the Mekong giant catfish conservation project, said conservation groups would definitely come up with medium and long-term plans to help the affected fishermen. This would include establishment of a fund to promote alternative careers for the villagers, such as aquaculture farming, she said.

Mrs Tuenjai suggested that fishermen use their unique skills to help scientists study the rare fish, or work as guides and educate tourists about the nature of pla buek and traditional fishing skills.

These activities would become the new sources of income for the fishing communities, while traditional knowledge about the giant catfish and fishing skills would be preserved, she said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 16 May 2006 :-

Buses most popular for Chiang Mai but costly

A study has concluded Chiang Mai's mass-transport needs would best be served by a rapid-bus system, but its estimated costs have doubled to Bt15 billion.

The bus system scored the highest of all options considered, the first public hearing into a mass-transit system for the northern capital was told yesterday.

The bus system scored a 59.7 per cent rating, said Dr Rangsan Udomsri of Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Engineering, who is leading the team studying the transit project. The options, including a subway and elevated train, were measured according to six criteria - engineering, traffic and transportation, economic, environment, social and land use, and public opinion, he said.

The subway and elevated-train options were the least appropriate, Rangsan said.

The two most competitive options were the bus system and tramcars. The latter, however, scored only a 40.3 per cent rating, he said.

Rangsan said of the bus system: "[It's] more economically viable, cheaper in maintenance and investment, and required less time for construction."

However, the system would cost Bt14.9 billion, if the internal rate of return (IRR) was calculated at 12 per cent, he said. This is double the Bt7 billion estimated by the study team last month.

Prasit Raksayos, a senior officer at the Transport Ministry, said Chiang Mai would face serious traffic and environmental problems within 10 years if it did not build a mass transit system. The study into the system began in January and will end in November, when bidding will start. The study includes both phases of Chiang Mai's mass-transit system.

Rangsan estimated the second phase - which will connect six surrounding districts to the city - should cost Bt17.1 billion, at a 12 per cent IRR.

Administration expert Chatri Ruangdejnarong said the new transit system should be run by a public organisation, rather than local organisations such as the Chiang Mai municipality.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai mayor Boonlert Buranapakorn said the proposal to build 11 kilometres of flood-prevention walls along the Ping River had been shelved due to opposition.

The mayor said this year's flood-prevention measures would rely on 200,000 sandbags. He also said no budget had been approved for flood prevention this year and the Bt50 million promised by the central government last year had yet to arrive.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 23 May 2006 :-

Flash flood in the north kills two and trapped thousands in Northern Thailand

Flash floods triggered by days of heavy rain killed at least two people on Tuesday and trapped thousands of others in northern Thailand, authorities said on Tuesday.

The floods, following three consecutive days of downpour, inundated several districts in the provinces of Nan, Phrae, Lampang and Uttaradit where more than 2,000 people were trapped and forced to climb on the roofs of their houses or in trees in Lablae district.

Rescue teams with boats were deployed to the area to evacuate the stricken residents. A 60-year-old woman was killed and eight others were missing in Lablae and a 13-year-old girl perished in Phrae province, officials said.

Meanwhile in Phrae, Ekkachai Wongworakul, president of Phrae Chamber of Commerce, said that the flooding has damaged many furniture factories which are main business of the province.

"In Phrae, we have middle and small furniture factories which were situated close to one another. They therefore were damaged by the flooding. It is estimated for now that the damage was about Bt30 million," Ekkachai said. Each year the business generated about Bt500 million.

The water also suspended the transportation in the area as many gas station submerged under the water.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork